Search results for "Sclerosis"

2019

Background: Network science provides powerful access to essential organizational principles of the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal evolution of gray matter networks in early relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) compared with healthy controls (HCs) and contrast network dynamics with conventional atrophy measurements. Methods: For our longitudinal study, we investigated structural cortical networks over 1 year derived from 3T MRI in 203 individuals (92 early RRMS patients with mean disease duration of 12.1 ± 14.5 months and 101 HCs). Brain networks were computed based on cortical thickness inter-regional correlations and fed into graph theoretical analysis. Network conne…

Effect of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids-Derived Bioactive Lipids on Metabolic Disorders

2021

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is an important ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA) are three well-known ω-3 PUFAs. These fatty acids can be metabolized into a number of bioactive lipids. Eicosanoids derived from ARA have drawn great attention because of their important and complex biofunctions. Although EPA, DHA and n-3 DPA have also shown powerful biofunctions, we have fewer studies of metabolites derived from them than those from ARA. Recently, growing research has focused on the bioaction of ω-3 PUFA-derived metabolites, which indicates their great potential for treating metabolic disorders. Mo…

Analysis of Plasminogen Genetic Variants in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

2016

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent neurological disease of complex etiology. Here, we describe the characterization of a multi-incident MS family that nominated a rare missense variant (p.G420D) in plasminogen (PLG) as a putative genetic risk factor for MS. Genotyping of PLG p.G420D (rs139071351) in 2160 MS patients, and 886 controls from Canada, identified 10 additional probands, two sporadic patients and one control with the variant. Segregation in families harboring the rs139071351 variant, identified p.G420D in 26 out of 30 family members diagnosed with MS, 14 unaffected parents, and 12 out of 30 family members not diagnosed with disease. Despite considerably reduced penetrance, lin…

Protective function of autophagy during VLCFA-induced cytotoxicity in a neurodegenerative cell model

2019

Abstract In recent years, a particular interest has focused on the accumulation of fatty acids with very long chains (VLCFA) in the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis or dementia. Indeed, it seems increasingly clear that this accumulation of VLCFA in the central nervous system is accompanied by a progressive demyelination resulting in death of neuronal cells. Nevertheless, molecular mechanisms by which VLCFA result in toxicity remain unclear. This study highlights for the first time in 3 different cellular models (oligodendrocytes 158 N, primary mouse brain culture, and patient fibroblasts) the types of cell death involved where VLCFA-in…

Suicidal Erythrocyte Death in Metabolic Syndrome.

2021

Eryptosis is a coordinated, programmed cell death culminating with the disposal of cells without disruption of the cell membrane and the release of endocellular oxidative and pro-inflammatory milieu. While providing a convenient form of death for erythrocytes, dysregulated eryptosis may result in a series of detrimental and harmful pathological consequences highly related to the endothelial dysfunction (ED). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is described as a cluster of cardiometabolic factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications such as those related to diabetes and atherosclerosis. In the light of the crucial role exerted …

Beyond the Transport Function of Import Receptors: What’s All the FUS about?

2018

Nuclear import receptors are central players in transporting protein cargoes into the nucleus. Moving beyond this role, four newly published articles describe a function in regulating supramolecular assemblies by fine-tuning the phase separating properties of RNA-binding proteins, which has implications for a variety of devastating neurodegenerative disorders.

Diabetic macroangiopathy: Pathogenetic insights and novel therapeutic approaches with focus on high glucose-mediated vascular damage

2018

Diabetic macroangiopathy - a specific form of accelerated atherosclerosis - is characterized by intra-plaque new vessel formation due to excessive/abnormal neovasculogenesis and angiogenesis, increased vascular permeability of the capillary vessels, and tissue edema, resulting in frequent atherosclerotic plaque hemorrhage and plaque rupture. Mechanisms that may explain the premature and rapidly progressive nature of atherosclerosis in diabetes are multiple, and to a large extent still unclear. However, mechanisms related to hyperglycemia certainly play an important role. These include a dysregulated vascular regeneration. In addition, oxidative and hyperosmolar stresses, as well as the acti…

International consensus: What else can we do to improve diagnosis and therapeutic strategies in patients affected by autoimmune rheumatic diseases (r…

2017

Autoimmune diseases are a complex set of diseases characterized by immune system activation and, although many progresses have been done in the last 15 years, several unmet needs in the management of these patients may be still identified. Recently, a panel of international Experts, divided in different working groups according to their clinical and scientific expertise, were asked to identify, debate and formulate a list of key unmet needs within the field of rheumatology, serving as a roadmap for research as well as support for clinicians. After a systematic review of the literature, the results and the discussions from each working group were summarised in different statements. Due to th…

Optimal use of lipid-lowering therapy after acute coronary syndromes: A Position Paper endorsed by the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP)

2021

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and consequent acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are substantial contributors to morbidity and mortality across Europe. Much of these diseases burden is modifiable, in particular by lipid-lowering therapy (LLT). Current guidelines are based on the sound premise that with respect to low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), “lower is better for longer”, and the recent data have strongly emphasized the need of also “the earlier the better”. In addition to statins, which have been available for several decades, the availability of ezetimibe and inhibitors of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) are additional very effective approa…

A T cell-specific deletion of HDAC1 protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

2017

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a human neurodegenerative disease characterized by the invasion of autoreactive T cells from the periphery into the CNS. Application of pan-histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for MS, suggesting that HDACi might be a potential therapeutic strategy for MS. However, the function of individual HDAC members in the pathogenesis of EAE is not known. In this study we report that mice with a T cell-specific deletion of HDAC1 (using the Cd4-Cre deleter strain; HDAC1-cKO) were completely resistant to EAE despite the ability of HDAC1cKO CD4+ T cells to differentiate into Th17 cells. RNA sequencin…